Weber receives accreditation in Massachusetts

Weber demonstrated the required fire service experience, education and certifications for accreditation.

“They called me on Jan. 15 to tell me I received accreditation and they will present my award certification at a leadership conference in February,” said Weber.

Weber said getting accredited in Massachusetts was a requirement when he took the job as chief. “I would have done it anyway,” he said.

Selectmen voted in October to offer the position to Weber, who was living in Lexington, Mo. and serving as assistant chief on the Lexington Fire and Rescue. Weber has 23 years of experience in the fire service. He accepted the job and started in Rutland on Dec. 3.

“Everything I used for accreditation here I had gotten at firefighter academy and my education level is to the point where I exceeded what was needed for accreditation here,” said Weber.

He is a recent graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Academy. “That’s a four-year program where you go two weeks a year for four years and it’s equivalent to a master’s type of program” he said. “It’s all leadership. It’s a point system, and I have many more points than I needed here,” he added. About 250 firefighters a year enroll in that program and roughly 60 percent pass, he said.

Weber said he submitted education documentation and letters of recommendation for the state accreditation. All the education has a point value, he added.

Weber said he always wanted to be a fire chief. “I always strive to do the best I can and I feel like I have the ability to lead and bring people along with me. In reality, in a department this size, your legacy isn’t what they say about what you did, but how many others follow in your footsteps and become leaders also, like in the Scouts.”

Weber was an Eagle Scout and hails from a family of three generations of Eagle Scouts where leadership was always important. Weber is going to visit his family in Missouri the first weekend in February to celebrate a belated Christmas. “My son is a Marine and he will be home on leave at that time,” said Weber. “My wife will come here in March and we’ll look for a house and then she’ll look for a job here.’’ She has a master’s degree and works in the non-profit field. She will go back to Missouri until their other son graduates from high school and then the family will all move here, said Weber.

Weber said that he is dedicated to providing the highest level of service to the community. “I have worked hard to continue my education and experience to bring a high level of professionalism to this position. I appreciate that this accomplishment recognizes my dedication to be the best fire chief I can for this community.’’